Automatic air-brake coupling.



No. 70mm. Patented 'lune 3, |902.

c. n. ssn-z.

4AUTOMATIK! AIBBRAKE CUPLING.

(Application led Dee. 14, 1901.)

(Ilo Model.)

UNITED STATES cLiN'roNi-i. snrr?,` or sunnwsnunr, PENNSYLVANIA.

f AUTOMATIC 'AIR-f5 RAKEl cou PLING.

I, Application-iled.December-l4i,1901AvSerial No. 85,931. (No model.)

This invention is an improved constructionY of coupling particularly adapted for automatically connecting steam or air pipes used in connection with railway-carsand automatic-` ally coupled at the same time the carsare coupled.

The object of the invention is to provide a coupling which shall be simple and efficient in construction and with this vobject in view the invention consists in the VVnovel featuresof construction and combination ,hereinafter fully described,and pointed outin the claims".

In the drawings forming a part of this specication, Figure l is aperspective view showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view illustrating two couplers connected: Fig.` 3ds a'longitudinal sectional View of one'of the couplers. Fig.,lis a defil tail perspective lviewshowing the head of the' said coupler, and Fig. 5 -is a transverse section on the line 5'5 of"Fig.'3.- 1

In carryingv out my invention I employ a cy'linderjA, which is connected at its rear end to air or steam pipe A. The inner cylinder of tube B slides longitudinally within the cylinder A, apacking C, of vsuitable material, being interposed between Ythe tube B and the forward end of the cylin'der'A, said packing being held in place by means of flanges C and C2, projecting inwardly from the cylinder A. The rear end' of the vcylinder A has an opening D produced therein, which opening is normally closed-by means of the coneshapedvalve E, the stemA E thereof being rigidly connectedtoa cross-bar E2, carried at the rear end of the tube B, andl in order to close the valve E, I employ a coil-spring F, which bearsat its rear endfagainst the rear end of the cylinder and at its forward end upon a collar F', which is rigidly attachedto the exterior of the tube B adjacent to its rear end, the forward portion of the spring surrounding the rear portion of the tube B, as most clearly shown, said spring thereby serving to project the tube B outwardly and maintain the valve E in `a closed position at the rear end 'of thecylinderl A.

At the forwardv end of the tube Bis arranged a coupling-head G, having .two forwardly-projecting wings G', and these wings are arranged upon the top and bottom of one head and upon the opposite sides of the opposing head, so that when the heads are brought together, as shown in Fig. 2, the side wings of one head will pass between the top and bottom of the opposing head, and thereby complete the coupling, the flat faces of heads contactingrwith each other, and in practice I prefertoarrange rubber packing-rings IAI upon the forward faces ofthe heads, thereby insuringla perfectly-tightjoint and also relieving theforw'ard facesof' the heads from any sud- 'den jar or pressure. Each head is also provided with a forwardly projecting guard I, which is essentially in the form ofahalf bell `or funnel, as most clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2, said guard being connected to the tube B at a point in the rear'lof the 'head H, as Ymost clearly shown in Fig. 3. rIfhesev guards iare outwardly, and thereby serve to guide ythe heads toward each other, softh'at the' .coupling is facilitated.. When the heads are 'brought together and coupled, each .tube B is of course forced inwardly into the cylinder A, and said inward movement of the tube B opens the valve E, thereby permitting air or steam to pass into the cylinder A and through the tubes B, said tubes being in communication, thereby establishing a connection between the steam orairr pipes 'of the train.

Y It will thusbe seen thatI `provide an exceedinglycheap, sim.ple,"and eflicicnt automatic'cou'pler for air orsteam pipes.

v In order to prevent the tube B turning within the cylinder A, I provide a spline or rib F2 upon the interiorof the cylinder A, which spline works through a-'notch or recess F3, produced in the collar Ff, encircling. the tube B. A stout spring Gr2 is arranged between the end of the tubeA and the coupling-head Gr, said spring' serving to hold thecouplingheadin itsproper position. A n It v*will also be understood that the said coupling-head can have alimited rotary movement, thereby permitting two heads to move accurately into engagement with each other.

Having thus fully described my invention,-

Ice

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the kind described, the combination with the tubes of the couplingheads arranged thereon, one coupling-head having the forwardly-projecting wings at the upper and lower sides, the opposing head having the forwardly-projecting Wings at its opposite sides, and the forwardly-proj ectin g and outwardly-Haring guard arranged at the side of each coupling-head, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a cylinder having an opening in its rear end, of a tube movable longitudinally in the said cylinder and projecting forwardly from the forward end of the said cylinder, the packing arranged at the forward end of the cylinder and between the said cylinder and tube, the flanges for holding the packing in place, the valve for closing the opening at the rear end of the cylinder, said valve being rigidly connected to the rear end of the tube, a coiled spring arranged Within the cylinder and surrounding the rear portion of the tube, a collar arranged upon the said tube and against which the forward end of the spring bears, the coupling-head arranged upon the forward end of the tube and having the forwardly-projecting wings arranged at diametrically opposite points and the guard arranged at the side of the coupling-head, substantially as described.

CLINTON H. SEITZ.

Witnesses:

CURVIN E. DISE, F. W. BROWN. 

